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THE MARCH OF THE PEACOCKS, 

( 2 ) 





A VISIT TO 


EL-FAY-G NO-LAND. 


BY w? 

MRS. M. M/ SANFORD. 

U 

AUTHOR OF “ BERRISFORD.” 


ILLUSTRATED. 



THE AUTHORS’ PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

BOND STREET. 

tirffl. 

Tr 


TZt 

,S ^7 


Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1879, by 
THE AUTHORS’ PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



I 

7 “ 


\ 


2.0 -Hf 


THE LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS, 


IN EVERY LAND, 


THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 


BY, 


M. MALONIA [RAY] SANFORD. 



CONTENTS, 


PAGE. 


CHAPTER I. 

The Latch String 9 

CHAPTER II. 

The Home of Santa and Kreche 21 

CHAPTER III. 

Santa and Kreche 33 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Year’s Labor 47 

CHAPTER V. 

Santa Tells of his Courtship 57 

CHAETER VI, 

Santa and Kreche’s Hour of Gladness 65 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Vagaries of Santa and Kreche 73 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Reconciliation 81 

CHAPTER IX. 

Laugh-e-oo and Violette 89 

CHAPTER X. 

The Sleepers Awake 101 


( 7 ) 


FULL PAGE 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

The March of the Peacocks 2 

Marriage of Huge Bumble Bee and Tiny White Mouse by 
Gaffer Grass Hopper 20 

Cupid and Campaspe Playing Cards for Kisses 56 

The Reindeer Quadrille . 64 

Agag, the Elf-King, Preparing to Hunt for the Wedding 
Ring 80 

Laugh-e-oo Goes with a Ring to Court Violette 90 


Santa Leaving El-Fay-Gno-Land on his Christmas Journey. ioo 


( 8 ) 



EL-FAY-GNO-LAND. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE LATCH-STRING. 

“Yet all these were when no man did them know, 

Yet have from wisest ages hidden been, 

And later times things more unknown shall show. 

Why then should witless man so much misween 
That nothing is but that which he hath seen ? 

What, if within the moon’s fair shining sphere, 

What, if in every other star unseen, 

Of other worlds he happily should hear ? 

He wonder would much more ; yet such to some appear.” 

A steep, rocky mountain. Its top is crowned 
with tall, majestic pines and hemlocks, around which 
sweep storms and whirlwinds, creating a melody like 
the low, deep tones of a cathedral organ ; ice and 
snow glistening cold and white; the whole, at once, 
majestic and grand. Its front is a mass of huge, grey 
boulders, towering and seemingly inaccessible. 

( 9 ) 


IO 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


Its foot is carpeted with the softest and richest of 
yellow and red mosses, which are bright with lichens, 
and dotted with tall, feathery, nodding ferns, fairy- 
like maiden-hair, large, waxy indian-pipe and sweet- 
scented vines ; while the country around is gay with 
soft, green grass, summer flowers and the songs of 
fluttering birds. 

Within the very bowels of this mountain is the 
home of those dear old friends of every child in the 
land — Santa Claus and his wife, Kreche Kindly. 

Methinks I hear some one ask, Where is this won- 
derful mountain ? 

My little friend, I cannot tell you. 

Were I to do so, in your great joy you would tell 
the world. Pilgrims would flock to it from every 
zone ; and thus, that desirable quiet of Santa’s 
household would be. destroyed. His time and that 
of his wife would be taken up in entertaining guests, 
and the bountiful Christmas of to-day would give 
place to a mock feast, where the table is spread with 
dishes of wood, but never a thing upon them. 

A few, however, who have been touched by the 
wonderful “Ointment of Invisibility,” have visited 
this spot one day in a hundred years, and touched 


• THE LATCH-STRING. 


1 1 


the Latch-String which is the “ open sesame ” through 
the door of that old grey mountain’s side. 

One morning I felt that I had been touched with 
this wonderful “ ointment” I hardly waited to make 
a few hasty preparations for travelling, so great was 
my eagerness to be on my way o’er land and sea. 
The usually fast rail and steamer seemed to me like 
snail coaches ; but on — on — I went through jungles 
and morass, never tiring, always wakeful, until the 
day before Christmas, I found myself standing in the 
enchanted place before the mountain. 

I at once began my search for the Latch-string 
which, I had been given to understand, would this 
day be left hanging out. 

Back and forth before those grey boulders I 
walked, straining my eyes and looking everywhere 
for that all important “ string.” 

What will it be like ? A weather-beaten rope, 
think ? 

No, no, I answered myself. It is only once in 
many years that it is hung out. It could never get 
weather-beaten ! 

Will it be a new hemp cord ? 

No, it cannot be that ! 


12 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND . 


That would excite too much curiosity. It was cer- 
tain that I need not look for either rope or string. 

Something which I fancied was like a brown door- 
knob struck my sight. 

That must be it ! The times have changed, I 
thought. People no longer use a latch with a string, 
but door-knobs instead. How am I to reach it? 
Dear ! dear ! it seems a half a mile away ! 

Calling wit to my aid, I devised a ladder of the 
running vines, then laboriously climbed up — up — ever 
keeping an eye on that mysterious knob. I reached 
it. I grasped it with both hands. I gave one stout 
pull. 

Did a door fly open ? 

No ; I met only with a severe disappointment ! 

It was but a projecting part of the grey boulder. 

Down — down — I carefully made my way. Oh ! so 
glad to feel my feet once more on the soft red moss, 
and to smell the sweets of the summer flowers. 

I must look still further. What will the Latch- 
string be like ? I kept asking myself. 

One thing I particularly noticed. A long spray of 
continuous flowers and buds, and one seeming to 
spring from the solid rock itself, had been dancing 


THE LA TCH-STRING. 


13 


up and down, hither and thither in the soft breezes, 
now before me, brushing my hair into my eyes, now 
saucily hitting my cheek and emitting a perfume like 
the oil of pansies and the attar of roses combined, 
until my senses reeled with the intoxicating play of 
its motion and odor. 

At last, after thinking that I could bear it no 
longer, I exclaimed, “ Peste ! keep still ! I believe I 
am both dazzled and drunk with your beauty ! ” 

As it playfully waved to and fro in the gentle 
breeze, it saucily stopped before my face and hung 
motionless. 

Had I found the Latch-string ? 

My hands trembled with a delighted excitement as 
I carefully grasped this floral cord. 

Should I pull? Would it prove the “open 
sesame ” ? Was there about to be spread before me 
a fairy world ? 

I hardly dare. 

However, as I took a sniff of the crushed flowers 
my courage rose. Then, too, my little friends would 
never forgive me if my cowardice were to conquer ! 

I pulled— gently at first— a little harder— harder 
still — harder — harder — oh ! the vine — the floral cord 


H 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


— snapped and fell at my feet and formed a beautiful 
wreath, in the centre of which I found myself 
standing. 

Alas ! this was not the Latch- string ! 

I began to think that Santa was not very kind. 

Again I cast my eyes upward and let them scan the 
mountain side. Simply standing and gazing at this 
or that would never accomplish the work which I had 
undertaken ; I must strive with brain and hand if I 
expected to ever succeed in gaining an entrance. 

A dark, irregularly shaped square among the boul- 
ders was next looked at with interest. 

Could that be a door ? 

Possibly ! for a door of some sort there must be. 

Again I climbed, carefully working my way, hold- 
ing myself steady by means of cracks and crevices ; 
now making progress by boldly walking a step or 
two upon some rocky, moss-grown shelf ; now fall- 
ing back and losing as much as I had previously 
gained, until, nearly overcome with fatigue and de- 
spair, I attained a strong foothold in front of the 
darkly outlined boulder. 

Examining it carefully, I saw what I was sure were 
hinges, and spots also which I took to be nails or 
bolts. 


THE LA TCH-STRING. 


15 


“ Ha ! ha! ” I laughed ; “ I am right at last ! ” 

“ Ha ! ha-a-a ! ” came from behind me. “ Ha ! 
ha-a-a-a ! ” came from my right. “ Ha ! ha-a-a-a-a ! ” 
came from my left. “ Ha! ha-a-a-a-#-#-#-# / ” came 
from above me. 

Hastily I looked around. No one was in sight. 
What did it mean ? What was I to do ? Should 
I knock? 

At first the idea seemed to be simply ridiculous — 
to knock with my womanly knuckles upon that solid 
block of stone ! 

But, then, why not knock ? Surely there must be 
some way to let Santa know that at his invitation I 
had arrived at the foot of the mountain, and was 
waiting to pay my invisible respects to him and 
Kreche, his wife. 

So thinking, I knocked and waited ; knocked and 
listened to hear some coming step or voice 
bidding me enter; moved along and knocked in 
different places ; tried different kinds of knocks ; some 
with one knuckle sharply pointed, many with four, 
and, growing impatiently bold, showered a succession 
of knocks with my doubled fists, until I came to the 
conclusion that knocking of every sort would never 


x 6 a visit to el-fa y-gno-land. 

gain an entrance through that provokingly obdurate 
mountain side. 

I might as well retrace my winding way, and once 
more standing on terra-firma, cogitate at length upon 
some other plan and move. 

To go back to my home without having seen 
Santa and Kreche, I never, never, never would ! 

Again I worked my perilous way down, and seat- 
ing myself on a mossy knoll, cooled my heated feet 
by rubbing them on the soft, green grass. 

I also took a draught from a bubbling spring, 
gathered and ate some delicious strawberries which 
were growing near, and, after wiping the perspira- 
tion from my face, felt better in body, although 
dreadfully anxious still in mind. 

I had had a mission given me and would perform 
it at any cost ! 

My spirit, after this last determination, rose ; and 
changing my seat to one more favorable, I took a 
calm survey of the face of the boulders. 

Surely, I thought, my eyes caught the wave of a 
tent flap ? 

But where — where ? 

Who knew whether Santa’s home had, or had not, 
a pavilion entrance ? 


THE LA TCH-STRING. 


17 

My eyes now crossed and recrossed the seamed, 
jagged boulders until, in their tire, I saw columns 
and pillars, Ionic and Corinthian, porticos wide and 
lofty, porticos low and narrow, porticos vine-clad and 
naked ; everything in a jumble and nothing plain. 

Finally, to my great relief, these cleared away like 
mist before the sun, and there, bold, majestic and im- 
penetrable as ever, stood the grey mountain. 

H’m ! H’m ! What next? 

I shut my eyes and tried to think. 

Perhaps Santa had been playing me a trick and 
really had no home to invite me to ! 

No ! I would not think that of him ! 

Had I not always found that the fruit which grew 
highest upon the tree and was the most difficult to 
obtain, was ever the sweetest and most juicy when 
reached ? 

So my enjoyment of the sights which I should find 
in Santa’s abode would be increased in proportion 
to the barriers which, found in my way, I persisted in 
overcoming ! 

Again I set my eyes to work. 

Was not that a dimly outlined face which I now 
saw ? 


IS A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 

In imagination the surface of the boulders was now 
covered with faces. 

Some were huge and grotesque, with monstrous 
staring eyes, others were round, laughing and merry, 
many were beautiful, but all were elfish. 

Ha ! there was one with a pipe ! Santa has ever 
been described as a continual smoker ! Let me catch 
another glance of that one face ! The one which held 
an amber pipe between its laughing lips ! 

Ah ! that identical one, that very one, the one had 
disappeared. 

How provoking ! Would it reappear? 

Mouths laughed and twitched and drew merrily, 
eyes beamed and knowingly twinkled at me in my 
perplexity, and then, all disappeared as had the por- 
ticos and pillars. 

Dear ! dear ! 

Now I saw innumerable hands. 

They beckoned, waved, and threw me kisses, out- 
lined symbolical figures, and played at pranks gen- 
erally. 

Now I beheld dancing feet. 

They whirled and waltzed and shuffled, cut the gay- 
est of antics, and then, like all the rest, disappeared in 


THE LA TCH-STRING. 


19 

turn, and left the cold, grey boulders to stand out in 
bold relief. 

I covered my tired eyes with my hand. The lids 
seemed gently pressed down. My limbs relaxed 
their stiffness. I felt that I was being gently borne 
upward. A tinkling of silver bells fell upon my ears. 
A soft wand was placed in my hand which* instantly 
gave a spasmodic motion. 

My little friends, I NOW held the Latch-string ! 




MARRIAGE OF HUGE BUMBLE BEE AND TINY WHITE MOUSE BY GAFFER. 

GRASS HOPPER, Chap. II. 

( 20 ) 







CHAPTER II. 

THE HOME OF SANTA AND KRECHE. 

“ Here be a woods as green 
As any, air likewise as fresh and sweet 
As where smooth Zephyrus plays on the fleet 
Face of the curled stream, with flow’rs as many 
As the young spring gives, and as choice as ^ny ; 

Here by all new delights, cool streams and wells, 

Arbors o’ergrown with woodbine, caves and dells ; 

Chase where thou wilt, while I sit by and sing, 

Or gather rushes to make many a ring.” 

Yes, I held the Latch-string ! 

I knew it by the strange thrill which shot through 
hand and arm. 

Suddenly and noiselessly a wide, high door flew 
open. Invisible hands shoved me through it. The 
door as noiselessly and suddenly closed behind me. 
I knew that, for a time, I had left the outer world and 
was in the midst of the truly wonderful. 

And another thing I knew, and hoped I should 
not forget. That it was for the benefit of the little 
girls and boys whom Santa and Kreche love so well, 

that I was permitted to make this visit. 

( 21 ) 


22 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


Can you believe that I was any other than all eyes 
and ears to what I was going to see and hear ? 

No ; I am sure not. 

Ah ! but Santa and Kreche little thought of all that 
I was to see and hear that day. If they had, or, 
if they had had the faintest dream of how power- 
fully the “ ointment ” was working upon me, or, how 
my every faculty was almost painfully alert to my 
surroundings, or, of my determination to leave noth- 
ing unobserved nor undescribed on my return, ’tis 
doubtful if I had received the honor of an invitation 
to their eyrie abode ; and if it is a breach of politeness 
on my part — this recording all that I heard or saw 
in that old mountain home — I humbly beg Santa and 
Kreche’s pardon. 

As I before said, the door quietly closed behind 
me. 

Before me stretched a high, irregular hall that 
seemed to be miles in length and breadth. 

The arched roof, if it were a roof, was spangled 
with stars that glittered and twinkled in their frosty 
blue setting, while the silvery moon hung her crescent- 
horn and moved among them like the queen she is. 

The vast space which was stretched before me, and 


THE HOME OF SANTA AND KRECHE. 


23 


which at first seemed to my newly set eyes like a whole 
country in itself, was broken into shady groves of tall, 
feathery palms which waved and gracefully swayed 
to and fro in the soft breeze ; flowering locusts 
which towered up toward the star-spangled roof, and 
formed brown pillars supporting green arches ; hang- 
ing gardens — suspended from, I couldn’t see where — 
but which were rank with mammoth roses, olean- 
ders, waxy lilies, whose nearly intoxicating perfumes 
stole upon me in wafts. These were flanked upon 
every side by clusters of orange and lemon trees, 
bananas ; and the odd looking cocoanut, so tall and 
branchless that I fell to wondering how the fruit from 
them was ever obtained. 

When lo ! up among the top clusters I spied a little 
brown image, and as I caught the twinkle of his sharp 
eyes, I knew that he had been placed there to cast the 
fruit down. What was still more singular — as it com- 
bined the Orient with the Occident, autumn with 
spring, and summer with winter — were the leafless 
trunks of our own loved butternut, chestnut and wal- 
nut, while bags and bags of their ripe nuts were piled 
beneath them. 

A shimmer of silvery light caught my eye. Soon 


24 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-G NO-LAND. 


a cool spray from balm-scented fountains regaled my 
senses, and I felt myself rapidly recovering from 
the fatigue attendant upon my swift and lengthy 
journey. 

Seating myself for a moment in an arbor of wood- 
bine, I let my eyes run over the little chattering 
brooks in which pretty speckled trout were leaping, 
over the entrances to shady dells and caves, over the 
sparkling cascades which were arched by evergreens, 
and the more tiny waterfalls which poured over clean 
white rocks, and around which invisible water-sprites 
must have been playing at hide and seek, there was 
such a faint splashing and ruffling of the surface of 
the curling stream. 

I soon learned that the water-sprites were having a 
gala day. 

Pretty rings of foam came whirling to the light, 
and then falling upon the water, floated indolently 
away — away — and with such graceful motions that I 
knew them to be foam-crowns on the heads of maiden- 
sprites. 

These were closely followed by curled and parti- 
colored maple leaves, and in them were seated gay 
little sprite queens, who, with their attendants, were 


THE HOME OF SANTA AND KRECHE. 


25 

being floated down the stream to reign at a yearly 
sprite-feast to which came the sprites from every 
water. 

Listening, I heard them singing in a faint murmur- 
ing cadence like the mellowing ripple of a sea-shell : 

“ Come one, come all, and trim your sails, 

To float the bonniest queen that hails 
From silvered streams and sun-kissed waves, 

And banks of foam and coral caves; 

Let every water-sprite draw nigh, 

And change to mist her faintest sigh, 

To sparkling foam her slightest glance, 

Or at her wave of hand to dance 
In measure light around her car, 

On golden beam of sun-lit air. 

Come one, come all, and prostrate fall 
Before this bonniest queen of all.” 

I gathered that their destination was a lofty, roomy, 
hall-like sea-shell which had been stranded on a sandy 
beach. There they were to dance on a floor of 
pearls, and feast from dishes of carved coral on the ten- 
der liver of a very young sea-calf. After which they 
were to form themselves into a sprite-flotilla and 


26 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


await the pleasure of Santa and Kreche, who might, 
in some indescribable way, need their services. 

Leaving these, my eyes sought the lovely, placid 
lakes whose smooth surfaces caught and reflected the 
frosty blur of the sky, the glitter of the stars, and the 
calm, dignified crescent shape of the swinging moon. 

The banks were fringed with low willows which 
laved their tips in the clear waters, while they formed 
a border of greyish green to these immense reflecting 
mirrors. 

Many of these lakes were dotted with gay little 
boats, in which I at once concluded Santa and 
Kreche refreshed themselves when wearied, by taking 
sails. 

In the centre of two or three of these quiet little 
bodies of water, rose grottoes of white marble. I 
could perceive, even at my distance, that their floors 
were paved with smooth, white malachite stones, 
while the seats were huge rose-tinted conch shells, 
and twined around them and hanging in wreaths was 
that peculiar pale green, long-sprayed sea-moss which 
is so soft and velvety to the touch. 

Pendant from the white arches were long stalactites 
which threw off prismatic colors and formed such 


THE HOME OF SANTA AND KRECHE. 


27 


pretty shafts of light that I again fell to wondering 
if there were mermaids in those waters, and if they 
ever come up from their coral beds ; and — sitting 
in those moss-wreathed conch-shell chairs — by the 
lovely prismatic light of the moon-kissed stalactites, 
comb out their long, silky, beautiful hair, and, catch- 
ing the moonbeams on their silvered mirrors, coquet- 
tishly try to throw their reflection on Santa, as he 
strolled on the quiet banks, and so coquette with, and 
bring him under their charmed influence, that they 
could playfully bind him with ropes of sea-weed, and 
drag him down to their sea-cave home. 

On little rising knolls were the fairy rings. 

I strayed toward them. 

How often I had longed for this hour, and here it 
was ! 

Then, too, I had hoped to see a Fairy Queen lead 
out the dance. 

Right here, however, disappointment was to be 
mine. 

The dance was ended, and the queens lay resting 
within the scented coverlets of half-blown roses. 

The “ Maids of Honor,” after feeding them on 
honey, ambrosia and nectar, had laid their queens’ 


28 A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND . 

beauteous heads on the yellow, seedy pillows, tucked 
the satin-petal coverlets down, drawn the tinted cur- 
tains close, and now stood on guard, that the over- 
fatigued, petite queens might enjoy, without being 
disturbed, a refreshing nap. 

All this was whispered to me in faint murmurs, and 
so, after bending over the queen-ladened roses as 
long as I dared, I reluctantly moved on. 

Next, my roving, prying, spying eyes — for of course 
I had come to rove, and pry, and spy — took in the 
feasting ground of the Elves. 

I knew it by the many bright fire-flies which were 
hovering over it in mid-air. 

In the centre was a spring of pure, clear water, 
which bubbled, and boiled, and foamed, while its 
brink was hung with that long-sprayed sea-moss 
which was everywhere so abundant, and at the same 
time so prettily ornamenting, that I did not wonder 
at its frequent use. 

The fine filament ends of this lovely plant lay on 
the surface of the uneasy water, which, by its bub- 
bling motion, gave a quicksilvery green tinge, and 
was wholly unlike anything that I had ever before 
seen. 


THE HOME OF SANTA AND KRECHE. 


2 9 


Carelessly scattered around were halves and tri- 
angular pieces of brown nutshells, whose meats had 
been served by the Elves before their King. 

Lying in heaps were untasted pomegranates and 
poppy seeds and heads of dead-ripe grain, while here 
and there were broken elf-arrowheads and shattered 
elf-lances, telling of the warlike spirit of the Elf-king, 
and that he had been drilling his subjects in the art 
of war, or that they had been holding tournaments 
and mimic battles before him, and for his especial 
amusement. 

Now, it is a Germanic custom to gather these 
arrowheads and broken lances wherever they are 
found, and wear them upon the breast as a talismanic 
protection against poison, evil spirits, accidents, and 
many other unpleasant things ; but I dare not even 
lift them, for I had been invited to see and hear, not 
touch. 

I walked along and fell into a strange procession. 
It was composed wholly of peacocks. A most majes- 
tic moving bird led the van. It was very lengthy, 
and formed such an array of moving color that I was 
fairly dazzled with its irridescent splendor. 

I wondered greatly what part these birds had to 


30 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


perform. Was Santa and Kreche so dainty in appe- 
tite as to feed upon peacocks’ tongues ? 

Before I left, however, I learned their use. 

Next, I fell among a motley company which ap- 
peared to be marching in couples, and from all di- 
rections, to one centre. 

Tiniest humming-birds, wing and wing ; chirping 
crickets and katydids, fireflies and devils-darning- 
needles, cock-chaffers and beetles, pair and pair ; were 
preceding me, with butterflies hovering everywhere. 

I soon learned that Squire Huge Bumble Bee, of 
Hive Grove, had been that morning married by 
Gaffer Grass Hopper to the lovely and chaste belle, 
Miss Tiny White Mouse ; and these airy visitors were 
the invited guests to the wedding dinner which was 
being given at the residence of the bride’s parents, 
Mr. and Mrs. Grey Mouse at Castle Tumble Down. 

Ah, yes ! I would consider myself invited and 
attend ; but more as a reporter than a guest. 

They came ! They continued to come ! I thought 
there would be no end ! 

The lovely Misses Miller in white velvet and 
grey ; the numerous Butterfly family in their fullest 
dress ; the Fireflies with their diamond ornaments ; 


THE HOME OF SANTA AND NEE CHE. 


31 


the Beetles in their jet coats ; the Ants, each tugging 
a kernel of grain; the Wasps in bodices of yellow 
satin ; the Katydids in pea green ; the Grass Hoppers 
in russet brown ; the Lady Bugs in gold and maroon. 
I cannot tell you of all, only that they were there. 

It was to be a garden party, and the guests were 
received under a witch-hazel bush. 

The bride was dressed in a robe of ermine without 
the spots, and a mantle of red silk, which was tied 
around her neck and then thrown gracefully over her 
back. 

Her long slender tail was modestly curled around 
her little feet, and her delicate paw was lovingly 
rested on Squire Huge Bumble Bee’s shoulder. 

Squire Bumble Bee himself was, as usual, very 
pompous ; stood very erect, and with wings spread to 
show his fine evening suit of striped orange and 
black. 

It was, at once, an unique and pretty sight. 

The guests presented themselves in much order. 

The Lady Bugs with timidity, the Grass Hoppers 
with hat in hand, the Flies in white-topped boots, the 
Horn Bugs drew white handkerchiefs from under 
their shiny coats ; each seeming to feel that they must 


32 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


honor the occasion by doing the best they knew how, 
and, if possible, by out-doing their neighbor in polite- 
ness, compliments and attentions to the bride. 

The company and their congratulations were 
received in a modest, charming way, and then they 
were invited to the feast. 

The table was a smooth, flat stone in an open glade. 

The table-cloth was of the united petals of white 
water-lilies. 

Golden acorn-cups were filled with the purest and 
clearest of honey. These were flanked by rose-leaf 
plates of slices of bee-bread ; upon round white peb- 
ples lay squares of pine apple-cheese, quarters of 
golden-sweet apples, bunches of luscious raisins, and 
many other viands, the nature of which I could not 
determine. 

The guests, in their well-bred politeness, partook 
sparingly of these tempting dishes, and then, arm in 
arm, or wing and wing, made their adieus, and turned 
upon their homeward way. 

I watched them out of sight, and then began to 
think within myself that it was time for me to turn 
my further attention to the personages of my story — 
Santa Claus and his dear old wife, Kreche Kindly. 



CHAPTER III. 

SANTA AND KRECHE. 

Santa. 

“ Though I go bare, take ye no care, 

I nothing am a-colde ; 

I stuff my skin so full within 
Of jolly good ale and olde. 

No frost or snow, no wind I trow, 

Can hurt me if I wolde, 

I am so wrapte, and thoroughly lapte 
In jolly good ale and olde.” 

Kreche. 

“ Outward grace weak love beguiles — 

She is Venus when she smiles, 

But she is Juno when she walks, 

And Minerva when she talks.” 

Yes, I had journeyed long and far to see this 
famous couple, who are known to some of my dear 
little readers as Santa Claus and Kreche Kindly, to 
others as Kriss and Krissy Kringle, to others yet as 
Saint and Saintess Nicholas. 

( 33 ) 


34 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


They may have many other names in far off 
oriental and hyperborean lands, but if so, I have 
never heard them. 

I had not long to look. 

In the centre of this vast hall sat the wonderful pair. 

Anxious to do my work of seeing well, and that 
nothing might escape my vision, I slowly drew toward 
them. 

As I had expected, they were busily at work ; and 
as they did not seem to be aware of my presence, I 
knew that the “ Invisible Ointment ” had also done 
its work. 

This indifference to my presence, however, may 
have been only politeness on their part, thinking that 
I might feel embarrassed at finding myself in so 
strange a place and in so distinguished company ; for 
over these scenes of which I am still to tell and have 
been telling, Santa and Kreche reigned as king and 
queen. 

Many others from different climes, and who spoke 
in different tongues and who had been also touched 
with the “ ointment,” may have been present and 
standing beside me ; but if so, we were all in the same 
state of invisibility to each other. 


SANTA ANT K RE CHE. 


35 


W ell ; I stood and looked upon Santa in wonder ! 

From the fact of his having a reputation of ascend- 
ing and descending the tallest and narrowest of chim- 
neys I had ever thought of him as a thin, feather- 
weight dwarf. And what a mistake ! 

Here he was a thick, jovial, well-fed old fellow with 
a round, merry face, bright blue eyes, long straight 
nose, handsome mouth and teeth, broad, high fore- 
head, white hair falling over his collar in soft, large 
curls, and a long wavy white beard which fell down 
low upon his breast. 

He wore a dressing-gown of a rich oriental pattern, 
which was lined with cherry satin and trimmed with 
bands of ermine, and which in itself told of his jour- 
neys in countries that were both cold and hot; while 
white Turkish pantaloons, red silk stockings and fur 
slippers completed his strange attire. 

And this was Santa Claus ! 

What do you think of him ? 

Kreche showed her age more, perhaps, than did 
Santa. 

She was tall, and broad, and dignified ; but her 
Venus-like beauty was certainly on the wane. 

In my younger days I had heard much that was 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GN O-LAND. 


36 

good of this same old Kreche. Of her extra loving 
care of motherless little children ; and that, if she did 
not appear to them in person, they were none the less 
excluded from her thoughts ; that she prompted and 
influenced those who had them in charge to be ever 
patient with their naughty ways, mindful of their 
many wants, and to the planning for their amusement 
and happiness. 

Having always thought of her as a little old elfish 
woman, I was surprised at her dignified mien. 

She seemed gentle and kind ; indeed, her every look 
and move was kindness itself. 

If time had fled her youth and beauty its place had 
been taken by that which was far better for my little 
friends. 

A pleasant, benevolent smile now wreathed her fine 
old face ; her handsome lips were parted and showed 
white, even teeth ; dimples still nestled in her some- 
what wrinkled cheeks ; her soft, white hair was gath- 
ered in puffs on either side of her low, broad fore- 
head ; and her dark blue eyes had in them a look of 
truth, love and affectionate interest for all things. 
She seemed one, indeed, into whose large, motherly 
lap every little child who was tired and sleepy would 


SANTA AND KRECHE. 


37 

like to climb, and warmly resting, forget its troubles 
and cares. 

Her dress consisted of a petticoat of dark crimson 
satin, so thick and rich that it would nearly stand by 
itself, and I presume, was one which Santa had 
brought to her from some far-famed Eastern loom. 
Over this she wore a jacket of black velvet which was 
richly embroidered with gold braid and trimmed 
upon the edge with a deep gold bullion fringe, and 
lined with ermine. 

Around her neck was a wide frill of fine, white lace ; 
the same was at her wrists, and her head was 
crowned by a cap with a broad border which was 
also of fine lace. 

This was Kreche. 

What do you think of her ? 

Think what you may, my little friends, this old 
couple had to me a wonderful look of being of veri- 
table flesh and blood. 

Santa stretched himself back in a high old oak 
chair which was covered with pale blue velvet, and 
dotted with miniature silver bees, gay butterflies, tiny 
humming-birds, interspersed with golden stars and 
crescent-shaped little moons upon corners and angles ; 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


38 

and placing his shapely white hand over his hand- 
some mouth he actually — yawned. 

This done, he rubbed his head, stroked his long 
beard, crossed and uncrossed his legs, and looking 
around seemed eminently satisfied with his surround- 
ings. 

Kreche rose from a chair which was even hand- 
somer than Santa’s. 

It was of yellow ivory and pale sea-green velvet 
embroidered in wreaths of moss roses, and from its 
back hung chains of pale stars. 

She also stood and surveyed the scene, but with a 
weary look upon her face as though glad that the 
long year’s labor was done. 

The fine lace border of her cap rose and fell in the 
zephyrus breeze which played upon the soft, white 
puffs of her hair ; the fine rosy-tinted hands clasped 
and unclasped in a contented way as she viewed her 
works ; and as she reseated herself, she evidently felt 
that labor and duty, here at least, had had their 
sway. 

How did this ancient couple live ? I asked of no- 
body. 

Surely they were not a god and goddess to hold 


SANTA AND KRECHE. 


39 

revels with the elements and feed upon thunder and 
lightning. 

Neither were they of Elf or Fairy tribe, and so 
lived by sipping nectar and ambrosia. 

They were, to all seeming, like mortals ; and — must 
I say it — Santa had a look — a look of daily feeding 
on just that dreadfully common every-day diet, 
roast beef and beer — and Kreche, too, had just as 
decidedly an unethereal look. 

However, I smoothed over this unromantic fact by 
understanding that it was absolutely necessary for 
Santa, at least, to eat and drink with that heartiness 
which in its depth and breadth was wholly unlike the 
common man, in order to maintain that caloric which 
enabled him to ride with an incredible swiftness 
over mountain heights and swoop through sun-hid 
valleys, and which being often maintained against 
the air current, created in itself a temperature of 
iciness that no mortal less than he could endure. 

I now looked upon his magnificent physique with 
admiration. 

Hark ! Santa is about to speak ! 

He calls, “ Laugh-e-oo ! Laugh-e-oo ! Come 
hither ! ” 


40 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


A little brown Gnome — which I was now pretty 
sure carried one of the laughing faces as well as a 
pair of the grotesque ankles which had so puzzled 
me as I sat contemplating the cold, grey boulders — 
came so suddenly upon the carpet that, accustomed 
as I had become to strange scenes and things, I actu- 
ally started. 

Now, as all my little readers know, “ Gnomes ” are 
thought to exist for the purpose of guarding those 
treasures which are supposed to be beyond the ken 
of man, and hid in the depths of earth ; and this little 
brown Gnome’s mission was to guard the gastronomic 
treasure of Santa’s digestion, and so keep him hearty 
and hale. 

Ah, yes ! Laugh-e-oo was rightly named. He was 
broad ; he was short ; he was fat ; he was laughter 
personified ! 

Laugh bubbled from his eyes, from his mouth, 
from the calves of his legs ; with it his sides were 
filled ; and they shook like “ bowls of jelly.” 

As he passed me, he gave a glance over his 
shoulder. 

It was enough. Instantly I began to shake and 
laugh myself, and was glad that I had been rendered 
invisible.. 


SANTA AND K RE CHE. 


41 


The Gnome, Laugh-e-oo, bowed low before Santa, 
and then straighteded with such a comic jerk that it 
only increased my own felt jollity. Peste ! 

“ Laugh-e-oo, a boat of ale ; and then bring in your 
‘ Side Shakers ’ ! ” cried Santa. 

Laugh-e-oo, with his broad, merry, indicative face, 
quickly disappeared, but only to reappear with a 
silver tankard of foaming ale, which, upon his hand- 
ing to Santa, the latter drained to a drop. 

A moment after, hearing a soft rustling noise, I 
turned to see a party of dancing Gnomes, of which 
Laugh-e-00 seemed to be the leader, forming before 
Santa. They all had Laugh-e-oo’s face, ears, and big 
calves. 

Some of these Gnomes were missioned to guard 
Santa’s good nature and keep him always jolly, and 
so by helping to aid his enormous digestion, form the 
useful and indispensable “ caloric.” 

It was easy to see that the order of things in this 
eyrie mountain home, even if strange, was one pre- 
eminently wise. 

Well; each of these dancing Gnomes, or “Side 
Shakers,” as I heard them called, and rightly, too, was 
a thousand Punch and Judys rolled into one great 
pantomime. 


42 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


Their grotesque forms and faces were seconded 
only by their equally grotesque manners ; and Santa’s 
peals of laughter, as he viewed their antics, would 
have done your heart good to hear. 

Tired at length of this amusement, he dismissed 
them with a wave of his hand which they instantly 
obeyed ; but he called after their leader, “ Laugh-e-oo, 
another boat of ale ; let it be drawn particularly 
foamy and strong ! 

“ Kreche, old wife,” he added, “ will you not try a 
bumper, too, and have it drawn distractingly mild ? ” 

“ Not any, Santa ! Thanks very much ! ” replied 
Kreche, with a graceful bend of her large stately 
body. “As I never travel I do not need your 
strength-giving heat, but will keep you company by 
sipping a glass of my favorite honey-dew.” 

Taking up a silver whistle which hung by her 
side she sounded a musical note, which was soon an- 
swered by a fairy little creature whom I knew to be 
a wood-nymph, and whom she addressed as Yiolette. 

This dainty little hand-maid, who was like a wood 
violet, spread a pair of gossamer leaf-shaped wings, 
and when Laugh-e-oo returned with his boat or 
tankard — 


SANTA AND KRECHE. 


43 


“ Of jolly good ale and olde,” 

she came also, and on a huge oak-leaf waiter bore a 
crystal cup of aromatic honey-dew, and also wafers 
of snow-flake sweet cake. 

Balancing the waiter upon her head she stood 
motionless while Kreche partook, and Santa sang in 
a half baritone — 

“ I’ll stuff my skin so full within, 

Of jolly good ale and olde ; 

No frost or snow, no wind I trow, 

Can hurt me if I wolde ; 

I am so wrapte, and thoroughly lapte 
In jolly good ale and olde.” 

To which Kreche in a soft soprano returned — 

“ Whether it be new or olde, 

I cannot eat but little meat, 

For my stomach is not goode ; 

But sure I think that I can drink 
With him who wears my hoode. 

I love no roast but a nut-brown toast, 

And a crab laid in the fire ; 

A little bread shall do me stead, 

Much bread I do not desire.” 


44 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


To me these toasts seemed homely and old, but 
they were given in such a hearty good way, and with 
such a loving glance between the old couple, that I 
thought, perhaps, they were worth bringing down to 
their present use. 

Again sang Santa — 

“ Back and side go bare, go bare, 

Both foot and hand go colde ; 

But belly, I’ll send thee good ale enough, 
Whether it be new or olde. 

No frost or snow, no wind I trow, 

Can hurt me if I wolde ; 

I am so wrapte, and thoroughly lapte 
In jolly good ale and olde. 

Then doth thou troll to me the bowle, 

Even as a malt-worm sholde ; 

And belly, I’ll send thee good ale enough, 
Whether it be new or olde.” 

Returned Kreche in the same soft, gentle strain — 

“ Though I can eat no bread or meat, 

For my stomach is not goode ; 

As your sweatheart I will take my part 
Of this jolly good ale and olde.” 


SANTA AND KRECHE . 


45 

“ Laugh-e-oo, bring two boats of ale ? One drawn 
foamy and strong, the other creamy and mild ! ” 

They were soon brought by jolly Laugh-e-oo, who 
seemed to think that matters were travelling in the 
right track, and was correspondingly happy ; while 
Santa continued to sing — 

“ And here’s to the year that is past, my dear, 

A year of worke and toile ; 

We have done much goode, to those we wolde, 
And no grime our hands have soiled. 

’Tis not for golde, to be bought and solde, 

That we’ve done this worke of love ; 

For never a day but has had its play, 

And all mercies that it sholde. 

Then drink, sweetheart, and take a parte, 

Come troll to me the bowle ; 

That I may wrap, and thoroughly lap 
Myself in good ale and olde.” 

To this Kreche replied — 

“ Sure I think that I can drinke, 

To him who wears my hoode ; 

Let back nor side go bare, go bare, 

Nor foot nor hand go colde. 

So here, my hearte, I drink a parte, 


46 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


Whether it be new or olde ; 

Full oft then lap, and thoroughly wrap 
Yourself in goode ale and olde.” 

Here the toasts ended, and each lapsed into 
thought. 




CHAPTER IV. 

THE YEAR’S LABOR. 

“ O ! then I see Queen Mab — and she comes 
In shape no bigger than an agate stone 
On the forefinger of an alderman, 

Drawn with a team of little atomies 
Athwart men’s noses as they lie asleep ; 

Her wagon spokes, made of long spinner’s legs, 

The cover, of the wings of grasshoppers, 

The traces, of the smallest spider’s web, 

The colors, of the moonshine’s watery beams 
Her whip, of cricket bone ; the lash, of film ; 

Her wagoner, a small grey-coated gnat, 

Not half so big as a round little worm, 

Pricked from the lazy finger of a maid. 

Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut, 

Made by the joiner, squirrel, or old grub, 

Time out of mind the fairies’ coach makers ; 

And in this state she gallops night by night.” 

For a few minutes, the only sounds heard by me in 
the great hall where Santa and Kreche were sitting 
were the soft notes of the cuckoo ; the gentle drip, 

(47) 


48 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


drip of the fountains, and the wash of the wavelets 
in the near yet far-off lakes. 

At length Santa turned toward Kreche, and with a 
pleasant expression upon his countenance, said, “ Old 
wifey, our work for this year is nearly done.” 

“Yes, Santa, all but the packing, which I will do 
while you are asleep.” 

“You must crowd more than you did last year, 
wife. I am getting so broad and heavy now-a-days 
that you hardly give me room to sit ; and some of 
the chimneys are very, very long and narrow. 
Really ” — and here he laid a hand on his full 
stomach — “ unless Laugh-e-oo takes much care, I am 
afraid that so much squeezing will injure my diges- 
tion and power for generating the indispensable 
caloric. Kreche, have you put all the ears and tails 
on that last lot of cats and dogs ? ” 

“ Yes, Santa.” 

At this question and its answer I looked around. 
In every direction lay the result of their year’s labor. 

Pile upon pile. Heap upon heap. Acres. Moun- 
tains. Toys of every description, even the most 
complicated of Chinese and other Oriental manufac- 
ture ; and wonderful beauties they were, too. 


THE YEAR 'S LABOR. 


49 


Such fans ; so rich ; so gayly painted ; so strange in 
shape ; such girdles of wrought gold and silver ; 
such carved boxes within boxes ; such vases of 
painted ivory ; such embroidered silks and satins ; 
such parasols and sunshades ; such caps of woven 
cane ; such tiny sh oes of wood ; such pipes for smok- 
ing opium ; such gilded dragons whose use I could 
not determine ; such sets of painted porcelain ; such 
unique chessmen ; such elegant sedan chairs ; such 
clear mirrors in fantastic frames ; such lovely white 
mice in cages ; such fat little puppies for pies ; such 
ornamented boxes for perfumes ; such families of 
pure white kittens ; and oh ! such dolls and dolls ; 
such — such — things — most rich and gorgeous, and 
such as an Eastern monarch might choose for the 
capricious inmates of his harem ; or such as a dainty 
belle of our time might dream of ; or such as a 
practical mother of a large ambitious family would 
deem most fitting ; down to the plainest jumping-jack 
which an American boy might have whittled with a 
dull knife. 

I turned to hear what further Santa might say ; it 
was this : 

“And, Kreche, have you filled the Noah’s arks full ? ” 


50 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


“Yes, yes.” 

“ And smoothed off the last forty thousand pairs 
of drum-sticks ? ” 

“Yes, I believe so.” 

“Painted the trumpets, carts, wagons, wheelbar- 
rows, carriages, steamers, boats, velocipedes, and all 
the rest of their tribe ? ” 

“Yes.” 

“ Put the manes and tails on all the horses, besides 
adjusting the saddles and bridles ? 

“ All are done.” 

“ Got the knives, tops, jacks, kites and balloons all 
ready ? ” 

“ All ready.” 

“The mittens, hoods, scarfs, sacks, stockings and 
shoes ? ” 

“ I believe so.” 

“And have not forgotten the dolls of every size 
with their wardrobes, carriages, cradles and play- 
houses, I’ll warrant ? ” 

“ Not I, Santa ; I look out for the little girls, for I 
don’t forget that I was once a little girl myself ! ” 

“ So you were, Kreche ; and a pretty one, too, I 
ween.” 


THE YEAR'S LABOR. 


51 

Kreche looked pleasedly at him while, as his eyes 
still beamed upon her, he continued to ask : 

“ And placed the watches, chains, necklaces, rings, 
bracelets, diamonds and pearls all of high and low 
degree in their satin-lined or other cases for the 
young ladies ? ” 

“ They are in order.” 

“ Fixed up the furniture, mirrors, carpets, paintings, 
pianos, organs, silver-plate and china-ware for the 
matrons ? ” 

“They are remembered, Santa, for I am a mat- 
ron.” 

“ Ah ! yes ; and how well I know what a notable 
one ! Got the dressing-gowns, slippers, smoking- 
caps, cigar-cases, meerschaums and tobacco-pouches 
for the gentlemen ? ” 

“ And would I forget them, think, when you are 
such a gentleman, Santa ? ” 

“ No, no ! That you wouldn’t ! And, Kreche, 
have you tipped that little wand with which I, at 
your suggestion, am to touch the hearts of sleeping 
misers and compel them to remember the poor of 
every clime, and open their purse-strings at the cry 
of distress ? ” 


52 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


“ Here it is, Santa. I have tipped it with gold and 
asked a blessing upon its work.” 

“ Thank you, Kreche ! And is everything marked 
to go in the right place ? ” 

“ Everything.” 

“ Haven’t got the different countries mixed ? ” 

“ Assuredly not, Santa ? ” 

“ Not one of the Spanish ladies’ veils put in with 
the fur caps of the Russian ? ” 

“ No.” 

“ Nor a pair of skates for the boy living near the 
equator ? ” 

“ I have not even indulged in that joke, Santa ! ” 

“Well, I didn’t suppose you had Kreche; but I 
thought I would ask.” 

Just here I said to myself, how much that last 
sounds like the questions asked by our men of the 
outer world. 

“ Got everything you need for our little attendants 
here ? ” 

“Yes, I think so.” 

“ O ! by the way, Kreche, have you seen anything 
lately of our coquettish little ‘ Vixen ’ ? ” 

“ Yes ; about a week ago I saw her strolling down 
* Lover’s Lane ’ with that fly-a-way, ‘ Prancer.’ ” 


f THE YEAR ’S LABOR. 


53 


“ Did you, now ? Well, he brought her up before 
me one day, and dolefully said, ‘ that she had stolen 
his heart and made way with it ; and wanted me to 
bid her either give it back to him, or offer him her 
own in return!’ To tell the truth, Kreche, I 
couldn’t get the saucy ‘Vixen’ to say which she 
would do. 

“ And there is ‘ Comet ; ’ she is going on in very 
much the same way ; only she has ‘ Cupid ’ to deal 
with, and I expect and really hope that she will meet 
her equal. I have more trouble with those ‘ eight 
tiny reindeer ’ than all the other inmates of our home. 
I expect they are capering off in the pine forest 
somewhere, and although they know that it only 
lacks a few hours of my starting, they won’t come in 
until they hear the music.” 

“Ah! well, Santa, let them rove the while and 
enjoy the beauties of this eyrie home. 

“ Our limbs are getting too old and stiff to indulge 
in the jollities of the past. Even the yearly wedding 
reel has become like work. Let us sit and talk of 
our youth — that mystic time that is gone forever 
from us ! ” 

“Yes, yes; we will do that by-and-by — but seri- 


54 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


ously, Kreche, I wish when the reindeer come in that 
you would give that saucy ‘ Vixen coquettish 
‘ Comet ’, and vain ‘ Dancer a rather severe lec- 
ture. They are continually flirting with ‘ Prancer ’ 
and ‘ Cupid as well as some others. 

“ And then, too, there is that grotesque Laugh-e-oo ! 
He has asked permission to pair off with modest 
Violette. 

“ I have told him again and again that he must 
adhere to caste. That Gnomes and Nymphs or 
Naiads cannot amalagate. 

“ He will not listen to reason, but proposes to 
boldly form a new order of things. Peste, take him ! 

“ Then there is Agag, the fighting Elf-king ; what 
does he do but put in a proposition to take one of 
the Fairy-queens for a bride. 

“ Of course, should I allow that to take place, we 
would at once be in the centre of a pigmy war. 
There would be battles and rumors of battles until 
we could not sleep. 

“And now every time I walk abroad, I expect 
those sea-green Mermaids will waylay me, and in a 
song ask to marry some old scaly sea-serpent ; and 
so complete the general motley. 


THE YEAR 'S LABOR. 


55 


“ I have been too indulgent ! Before I begin 
another year’s work these matters must be straight- 
ened. While I am out on my ride, I wish you 
would pave matters for me by hinting to some of 
the Queens that no more marriages like that of 
Huge Bumble Bee and Tiny White Mouse can take 
place.” 

“ O ! Santa, how can I, when Tiny and Bumble are 
so happy ? ” 

“ Happy ! You’ll see how happy they will be in a 
short time ! ” 

“ But we are happy, Santa.” 

“We are not bees and mice! Kreche, do you 
ever wish that you were anything different from what 
you are? ” 

“ Never! ” 

“ I am sure I hope not ! A few minutes ago you 
expressed a desire to review the past.” 

“ Let us do so.” 




CUPID AND CAMPASPE PLAYING CARDS FOR KISSES. 

( 56 ) 


Chap , V. 



CHAPTER V. 

SANTA TELLS OF HIS COURTSHIP. 

“ Cupid and my Campaspe played 
At cards for kisses ; Cupid paid ; 

He stakes his quiver, bow, and arrows ; 

His mother’s doves and team of sparrows ; 

Loses them, too, then down he throws 

The coral of his lip ; the rose 

Growing on ’s cheek (but none knows how), 

With these the crystal of his brow, 

And then the dimple of his chin ; 

All these did my Campaspe win. 

At last he set her both his eyes ; 

She won ; and Cupid blind did rise. 

O, Love ! has she done this to thee ? 

What shall, alas, become of me ? ” 

I KNEW that a little love scene was now about to 
be enacted between Santa and Kreche. 

How did I know it? some gallant little boy or 
modest little girl asks. 

Well, I knew it by the gathering near of a flock 

( 57 ) 


53 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


of turtle doves; by the marching- forward of the 
grandly spread peacock, and his train of irrides- 
cent-eyed beauties ; by the Elf-king’s drawing nigh, 
with ear bent to catch every word ; by the appear- 
ance of the Fairy-queens who had roused from their 
rose-leafed beds and ambrosia-fed slumber, and were 
hiding around Kreche’s chair ; by catching a glimpse 
of Laugh-e-oo who had ensconced himself behind a 
venerable oak tree, and was peering in every direc- 
tion for a sight of Violette ; by that rustling from the 
pine forest, which told that “ Vixen ” and “ Prancer,” 
“ Comet ” and “ Cupid,” “ Dancer ” and others were 
on the watch to catch Santa in a love passage, and 
then use it as a tender in their own case ; by the 
many foam-rings of the Water-sprites, which were so 
thrown as to catch the golden light of a mellow sun- 
beam ; by the opening and closing of the gay wings 
of the butterflies, as they indolently rested in their 
flight to hear ; by the queen honey-bee’s leaving her 
seclusion to dreamily gaze at the old couple ; by 
catching a gleam of the hand-mirrors of the Mer- 
maids, as they threw up their beautiful arms and 
renewed the moss-wreaths on the conch-shell chairs 
in the marble grottoes; by the shrieks of the gay 


SANTA TELLS OF HIS COURTSHIP. 


59 


plumaged paroquets, being robbed of their harshness 
and attuned to something like harmony ; by the 
placid gentleness of the wave of the long drooping 
branches of the weeping elms ; by the perfumes shed 
by the mammoth roses and oleanders in the hanging 
gardens ; by the opening of the white lilies, and by 
a thousand signs which told that something rich and 
rare was about to take place, and that if I were wise 
I, too, would be on the alert. 

Santa took Kreche by the hand and drew her 
toward him. His arm stole near her. He gently 
seated her upon his knee ; and while holding her 
thus, with one arm around her waist, he parted the 
silvery hair from her brow, gazed into her truthful, 
bright blue eyes, stroked her soft wrinkled cheeks, 
and kissed her. 

“ Kreche, dear wife,” said he, “ I remember when 
‘ Cupid ’ I, ‘ Campaspe ’ thou, we played at kissing. 
Your hair was bright as the rising love-star ; your 
brows were like bent bows ; your forehead like the 
white lilies’ glow ; your cheeks like milk and roses ; 
and above your dimpled chin was this bank of kisses 
for which we played. 

“You won; and I builded for you from the fibres 


60 A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 

of my heart a chariot of love ; placed you therein ; 
and running by your side, brought you to this, my 
eyrie home ! 

“ Here, through ceaseless rolling years we have 
dwelt — happy I, contented you ; I your fortune, you 
my star! 

“ Here with united hands we have done and are 
still doing a work of beauteous love ; for the world’s 
beauty is comprised of love. 

“ Priests and poets sing its power ; brush and pen- 
cil mark its charms ; castle and dungeon wear its 
chains ; water nor fire cannot it quench ; nor air, nor 
earth can hold it down ! 

“ It fills all space ! It centres in eternity ! It is 
the fairest of all the heaven-born attributes ! 

“ Kreche, these hands of yours have toiled for me ; 
and mine, for you. Will any other Santa ever take 
my place ? or any other Kreche yours ? 

“ The world’s progress lies in change, and we 
must be prepared to at any time throw down our 
love-united sceptres, and give place to some steam or 
electric power which, perhaps, in its history, will set 
us down as banished monsters, who once a year were 
permitted, by the 4 Powers,’ to hold their satyr dance 
around the beds of sleepers ” 


SANTA TELLS OF HIS COURTSHIP . 6l 

At a thought of such ingratitude from the world, 
Kreche’s head dropped upon Santa’s shoulder, and 
her arms stole around his neck. 

Glistening tears stood upon his eyelashes as he 
stroked her soft white hair. 

Kreche at last raised her head from his shoulder ; 
a look of happy, satisfied affection resting upon her 
fine old face. 

“ Santa, my husband, notwithstanding your predic- 
tion that there is an age coming when we will be by 
the world forgot, and our loving intentions trans- 
muted to works of evils instead of good, I am a 
thousand fold repaid for all toil and care by a knowl- 
edge of your enduring love ; that your eyrie home 
has been my home ; your eyrie people, my people ; 
your eyrie work, my work ! 

“ In these little golden circlets which span the 
finger-cords that lead to and feed our hearts, lies the 
talisman which makes you mine and I yours. 

“ Through their magnetic influence, happiness and 
that perfect bliss which no mortal outside of our 
eyrie home can ever know, reigns with us ! 

“ It is the intensified soul bliss of the gods, tem- 
pered by our mortal bodies ! 


62 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND . 


“ Hid from the world by the rock guarded sides of 
our eyrie abode, no disturbing woes, no jealous ele. 
ments, can intrude, while the talisman is worn bright 
in performing works of love ! ” 

Here they each kissed the ring upon the other’s 
finger, while Laugh-e-oo stood out from behind the 
oak-tree and boldly winked at the modest little 
Violette, as much as to say, “Won’t this be a rich 
scene to bring before the old fellow’s memory if he 
dares refuse my suit for your hand ? ” 

The Elf-king, Agag, shouldered his war-lance and 
looked fiercely at the fairest of the Fairy-queens. 

The coquetting “ Vixen ” and “ Comet ” gave each 
a little sniff, as though such long devotedness was 
something of which they would never be guilty. 

The turtle doves billed and cooed and dressed 
down their pretty plumage. 

Foam-rings lay in circles on the curling face of the 
little murmuring streams. 

The butterflies closed their gayly painted wings as 
though meditating upon what they had just heard. 

The queen honey-bee went with a contented air 
back to her seclusion. 

The Mermaids placed fresh moss-wreaths on the 


SANTA TELLS OF HIS COURTSHIP. 63 

conch-shell chairs, and added to them strings of love- 
coral. 

The paroquets repeated, “ 1 No disturbing cares ; no 
jealous elements shall ever here intrude ! ’ ” 

The waving elms and flowering locusts entwined 
their long branch-like arms, and rustled their leaves 
with a hidden meaning ; while the roses and olean- 
ders shed a stronger mingled perfume ; and I — well, 
I fell to thinking — take care, Kreche, lest in thy hour 
of boasting thou dost fall ! 

While this very outer-world thought was running 
through my brain, and I was observing how visibly 
all nature, even to myself, was being affected by 
the love passages of this famous old couple, and 
wondering where, in my hurry, I had put my hand- 
kerchief — for during Santa and Kreche’s conversation 
I had so entered into the spirit of it that I felt a tear 
was standing in the corner of my eye — my ears were 
touched by the sound of sweet floating music. It 
seemed to be coming from the dells and caves and 
grottoes, and wafted down in gentle gusts from the 
tops of the feather-palms and flowering locusts. 

“ What will be the next scene on the carpet in this 
eyrie home?” I asked myself. 



THE REINDEER QUADRILLE. 

Chap. VI. 


i 


(64) 



CHAPTER VI. 

SANTA AND KRECHE’S HOUR OF GLADNESS. 

“The moon’s a gallant ; ” 

The stars shine fair. 

The Mermaids comb their silky hair. 

The Fairy-queen leads out the dance. 

The Elf-king starts with couched lance, 

The Water-sprites throw rings of foam. 

Bees and butterflies hie them home. 

The birds doth cease their matin song, 

And twilight doth her hour prolong. 

Enchanting music now filled the air as though 
the breaths of a thousand ^Eolian harps were being 
wafted through a light which every moment was 
growing more and more beautiful. 

This light disclosed what I had not before noticed, 
that a lovely carpet of mossy-green, and made gay 
by low-growing flowers, was spread beneath Santa 
and Kreche, who still sat in a pleased reverie, while 
the smiles which were creeping over their faces so 
lighted them up as to give a look of half youth. 

( 65 ) 


66 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-G NO-LAND. 


The music and light intensified. 

I heard a near clatter of hoofs. 

Turning my head, I was surprised to see the “ eight 
tiny reindeer,” which are now as well known to the 
Christmas world as is Santa Claus himself, come 
bounding in a body from out a side forest of tall 
hemlocks and pines. 

Long pink-eared rabbits were straying in from the 
rank grass ; birds with the gayest of gay plumage 
were twittering, fluttering, hovering through the 
branches of the orange and lemon trees ; the gay 
butterflies were continually folding and dipping their 
mottled wings ; stray bees came humming home ; 
even the dolls and toys, which were still unpacked, 
tried to seemingly arrange themselves in something 
like order, and as though they were hardly inanimate 
upon this joyous occasion. 

I drew back a little, thinking I might be in the 
way, and forgetting for the moment the power of the 
“ Invisible Ointment ; ” and have no doubt but that 
others standing near me also drew back, and from the 
same motive. 

Santa raised his head, the pleasant smile upon his 
face causing it to fairly beam with light. He rose 


SANTA AND KRECHE ’S HO UR OF GLADNESS. 67 

from his chair, and gallantly approaching Kreche, 
said, “ Dear wife, shall we commemorate this, the two 
hundredth anniversary of our wedding-day, by danc- 
ing ‘ our Wedding Reel ’ ? ” 

“ As you please, Santa. I am happy enough just 
now to join in anything that will give you pleasure ! ” 
answered Kreche. 

The music grew loud and clear. 

Santa, again, in his indescribably gallant way, took 
Kreche by the hand and led her out upon the floor. 

After swaying back and forth in old-fashioned 
rhythm for the purpose of catching the pulse of the 
music, they postured for the dance. 

Santa bowed low to his partner, who curtesied 
in return, with the grace of a queen. He kissed the 
tips of his well-shaped fingers and waved them 
toward her. She returned the salute. He encircled 
her waist with his arm. They wheeled. They 
turned. They waltzed. They dipped. They rol- 
licked and giggled and laughed and shouted. 

“ Ha ! ha ! my Kreche ! ” and he chucks her chin. 

“ Ha ! ha ! dear Santa ! ” and she twitches his 
beard. 

“ Old Kreche ! You beauty ! ” 


68 A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 

“Old Santa! You gallant ! ” 

He whistles and chuckles and wags his head. 

The little reindeers come forward and join in the 
“ Reel ; ” shake their branching antlers ; and circle 
around the old couple, who observe them in great 
glee and merriment. 

The gay-plumaged birds swoop down toward the 
dancers as though to make their obeisance, and then 
rise on flashing wing ; the butterflies ope and close 
their tinted wings, while the waterfalls and cascades 
send up their most rhythmical murmurings. 

The dance kept up for an hour ; the music, after a 
little, growing fainter and fainter as well as slower 
and slower. It ceased. Santa and Kreche were 
nearly out of breath. Again bowing low, and 
Kreche curtesying with grace, Santa led his partner 
to her chair. She sank into it so breathlessly that 
the chains of silver stars which were suspended from 
its back quivered and glinted with the motion ; while 
Santa’s nose, as he sought his own particular seat, 
was like a “ cherry ” indeed. 

“ On with the dance ! ” he shouted, with a gesture 
which embraced all in its meaning. 

The light-hoofed “Vixen,” with “ Prancer ” by her 


SANTA AND KRECHE 'S HO UR OF GLADNESS . 69 

side, and closely followed by “ Comet ” and “ Cupid,” 
with the other four of the tiny reindeers, sprang into 
the circle. 

This circle was formed by the peacocks standing 
spread tail to tail, and as the pretty, rosy light fell 
upon them, it was a scene for the gods whose favorite 
bird they are to admire. 

The music was renewed, but with a double-quick 
measure. 

The reindeers formed a hollow square, something 
similar to the old-fashioned quadrille. 

“ Vixen ” and “ Prancer ” led. 

Eight hoofs around ; forward and back ; Does 
change ; galopade all ; forward the Bucks ; forward 
again and swing Does to their place ; gallopade all ! 
Does to the right ; Bucks to the left ; balance your 
partners; galopade all; GALOPADE ALL; GALOP- 
ADE ALL; etc., etc. 

“ Vixen’s ” antlers were waving everywhere, while 
her bright eyes gleamed — now, upon “ Prancer,” now 
brighter yet upon “ Cupid ; ” and “ Comet ” was not 
a whit behind. 

When the music ceased, they all declared that it 
had been a dashing quadrille. 


70 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


What is this ? Another company forming within 
the peacocks’ circle ? 

Laugh-e-oo, the leader of the Gnomes, dressed in a 
garb of dun brown, and with the bulging calves of 
his short legs — which, by the way, he considered his 
most beautiful feature, and depended greatly upon 
their charm to win the hand of Violette — more bulg- 
ing and knotted and gnarled than ever; his gro- 
tesquely shaped head ornamented with an abundance 
of vine-tendril curls that stood out like cork-screws ; 
and his monstrously long ears looped behind his neck ; 
led out the modest little Violette, the queen of the 
wood-nymphs. 

Her robe was of russet-green velvet, and trimmed 
with a fringe and chains of chincapin berries. 

Opposite them stood Agag, the Elf-king, with 
shouldered lance ; and by his side, the fairest of the 
Fairy-queens. 

This was a circle dance. It was pretty and grace- 
ful, but beyond my time or power to describe so as to 
be understood. 

Laugh-e-oo took the occasion to impress upon 
Violette the fact of his ardent admiration of and 
never-dying love for her dear self! while Agag 


SANTA AND KRECHE } S HO UR OF GLADNESS. j i 

fiercely vowed, that if the Fairy queen refused his 
suit, he would carry her off to some dark, damp, sub- 
teranean dungeon, and then fill his lance to the hold 
with her impaled subjects ! But, I presumed that 
these same things had been told for the two hun- 
dredth time. 

The next occupants of the circle were the bride and 
groom, “ Tiny White Mouse ” and “ Squire Huge 
Bumble Bee.” 

Tiny wore her bridal robe of ermine and mantle of 
red silk ; the Squire had also retained his evening 
dress suit, with waistcoat of orange and black. 

The set was filled out with that long-legged couple 
— Mr. and Mrs. Grass Hopper ; Mr. and Mrs. Royal 
Butterfly ; and Mr. and Mrs. Black Beetle. 

All were more or less gorgeously attired, and they 
danced to the soft music of the cock-chaffer, sharply 
timed by the notes of the cricket. 

During the time in which these strange couples 
of whom I have been telling had occupied the floor, 
and Santa and Kreche had been resting, I noticed, as 
my eyes now and then sought the old couple, that 
Kreche’s left hand was visibly affected. 

It moved and twitched with a spasmodic motion, 


72 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


and seemed not wholly free from pain, for she often 
held and rubbed and tried to keep it from dropping 
by her side. 

Her before placid brow was now seamed, wrin- 
kled, and severely corrugated, while her sharp frosty 
blue eyes snapped and twinkled like the stars which 
shone above her. 

Prythee, the cause ? Had aught offended ? 

Santa, himself, sat not wholly at ease. 

With his left hand he pulled and jerked at his long 
white beard ; glared at Laugh-e-oo and Agag ; shook 
his head and stamped his foot at “ Vixen ” and 
“ Comet ; ” threw fierce glances toward the marble 
grottoes, where the Mermaidj were combing their 
long silky hair ; and the curling streams instantly 
dropped their foam-rings and ceased their rippling 
murmurs. 

What does this agitation of the old couple mean ? 
I inwardly asked myself. 

Ah ! in the next scene I was humorously and sadly 
informed. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE VAGARIES OF SANTA AND KRECHE. 

“ Here is a box full of bumble-bee:;.” 
******** 

“ Hard words that are 
So nimble, and so full of flame 
As it every one from whence they came 
Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest, 

And had resolved to live a fool the rest 
Of his dull life.” 

Santa still continued to occasionally beam upon his 
ancient partner, and as though his love was centred 
in her. 

“ Kreche, love, what is that laying at your feet ? ” 
he said, at last. 

11 Why,” she sadly answered, and at the same time 
stooped and gathered some fine white tufts in her 
hand, “ it is bleached ‘ wool of the beaver ’ ! O, 
Santa, this is what I will do with it ! Knit another 
thousand pairs of tiny little mittens for those dear 
little babies, who, somewhere in the world, will this 

( 73 ) 


74 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


night be left motherless ! And, O, Santa, you must 
promise me that you will draw these little mittens on 
their tiny pink hands and tie them, as you know I 
would do ! And, Santa, one thing more ; don’t forget 
to kiss them for me ! ” 

“ Yes, Kreche, I will kiss them for you.” 

“ Santa, you may kiss all the little girls and boys 
for me to-night.” 

“Yes, yes ; I’ll kiss all the little boys and girls for 
you, my Kreche, and — and — all — all — the — the — the 
young — the young ladies for — for myself — ah ! ” 

“ * Kiss the young ladies for yourself ? ’ For ‘ your- 
self,’ Santa Claus ? ” 

“ Yes, for myself. Why shouldn’t I ? ” 

“ Why shouldn’t you ? ” Why shouldn’t you ! I 
am amazed ! Indeed, then, you shan't kiss them 
neither for yourself nor me ! ” and now Kreche’s fine 
blue eyes blazed most frostily in her jealous anger. 

“Shan’t, eh? We’ll see! I would like to know 
how you are going to prevent my kissing whom I 
please? Madam, yon will remain at home, while 1 
go abroad ! ” 

“ That is no matter. At home or abroad I will 
brook no kissing of girls in their teens ! Y ou shall 
kiss only me!” 


THE VAGARIES OF SANTA AND KRECHE. 


7 5 


(Here I again began to think that this couple was 
not so very unlike the residents of my outer world, 
after all.) 

“You are a pretty wife for a gentleman of my 
reputation to save his kisses for, ain’t you ? A gen- 
tleman who is renowned the wide world over for his 
gifts and — and gallantry ! must save my kisses for an 
old woman like you, eh ? with a waist like a barrel ; 
shoe like a cradle ; and fist like a sledge hammer ! 
A woman between two and three hundred years old ! 
Ha ! ha ! ha ! What an absurdity ! ‘ I must ! ’ 

eh?” 

“You need not tell me that I am old, Mr. Santa 
Claus ! I think I am every bit as young as 
yourself ! You are a very youthful gentleman cer- 
tainly, to think of kissing young girls. And when 
you speak of your * reputation for gifts and gallantry,’ 
where would be your ‘ gifts,’ pray, if I did not remain 
at home and prepare them ? Of your ‘ gallantry ’ — 
well, all men have enough of that, I ween ! I next 
wonder that you did not brag of your outer-world 
beauty ! ” and shutting eyes and clasping hands she 
satirically continued : “ Methinks I see a gentleman 
dressed for Christmas calls. 


76 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


“ In youth, he is tender ; 

In form, erect and slender ; 

In experience, gosling green ; 

In love, like syrup run to waste ; 

In kissing, a blundering baboon ; 

In dress, a man milliner ; 

In drink, claret and ale to the lees ; 

In food, a consumer that mortifies. 

“ Years roll on apace. 

“ The tender youth who once was so slender and 
erect has assumed a stuffed appearance ; his gosling 
green experience has changed to a pompous surety ; 
the syrup of his kisses has the tinge of ferment, while 
his baboonish manner has but intensified ; the dress 
of the man milliner has taken on the spots of a clown ; 
the claret gives place to beer; the consumption of 
food still mortifies. 

“ Cycles still roll. 

“ His old fur coat is all rags and tags ; covered with 
soot and cinders ; smells of pot-grease and garlic, to 
say nothing of a taint from an old pipe. 

“ His nose is red and a veritable snub ; his cheeks 
are bloated and purple ; his locks white and tangled ; 
his steeds are horned ; his reins not silken ; his coach 


n 


THE VAGARIES OF SANTA AND KRECHE . 

unpolished ; his command a vulgar whistle. He 
travels at night instead of day ; enters houses unbid- 
den ; leaves in a hurry ; and shuns observation. 

“ He thinks — O, Santa, dear one, my heart is 
breaking ! ” cried Kreche, stretching out her hands. 

She started from her chair, a look of astonishment 
superceding grief. 

The perspiration rolled in drops from her face! 

She clasped her hands in agony, while her body 
swayed to and fro and heaved in such convulsive 
throbs that I feared for her the worst. 

The little handmaid and wood-nymph, Violette, 
spread her gossamer wings, and calling her sister 
nymphs to her aid, she bid them hasten and prepare 
a nectar of honey-dew, and with double strength. 

“ Vixen ” came bringing a bough of aromatic pine, 
and with a well of trouble in her now soft and tender 
eyes. 

The eldest of the Fairy-queens approached and 
begged permission to lay her all-healing wand upon 
the sufferer’s breast. 

The Elf-king snapped his choicest lances in twain, 
and with aspect fierce and foot boldly set, presented 
them upon his shields as antidotes against evils. 


78 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND, 


Laugh-e-oo, with indicative face, smoothed of every 
wrinkle of jollity, brought the two boats of 
“Jolly good ale and olde,” 
and poured them as a libation at Kreche’s feet. 

The Mermaids prepared pillows of the softest sea- 
moss, and held them aloft in their beautiful arms that 
they might attract the attention of denizens of the 
air who soon swooped, and gathering them in their 
talons, bore them as rests for Kreche’s head, and she 
thus knew, as she felt their smooth, rocking, wavy 
motion, that her devoted creatures in the grottoes, 
while they could not leave their element to seek her 
side, were not forgetful of her sufferings ; and mean- 
while they sat and with their beautiful hair wiped 
away the crystal tears which streamed from their 
eyes. 

The peacocks advanced and offered their beautiful 
plumage as fans to bring near the zephyrus breezes 
to cool her brow. 

The stars held their twinkle ; and the moon no 
longer gallanting, mournfully dipped again and again 
her crescent horn ; as Kreche faintly cried, “ Santa ! ” 

Santa stood transfixed with horror ! 

Beseechingly he looked around upon all ! 


THE VAGARIES OF SANTA AND KRECHE. 


79 


To him the heavens grew dark, and every color 
began to dim and fade ! 

With a step that was as laggard as though 
weighted with all the boulders that sided his eyrie 
home, he at a snail’s pace advanced. 

Kreche turned her blue eyes toward him, and, as 
she feebly stretched out her hand, moaned in accents 
that nearly severed his heart in twain. 

“ My ring ! my ring ! Santa, my wedding-ring is 
gone ! Help ! Help to find it ! Come ! Come all 
things, animate and inanimate ; seen and unseen ; and 
search with me for my wedding-ring ! ” 




AGAG, THE ELF-KING, PREPARING TO HUNT FOR THE WEDDING RING, 

(80) 




CHAPTER VIII, 

THE RECONCILIATION. 

“ Folded arms and fixed eyes, 

A sigh that piercing mortifies ; 

A look that’s fastened on the ground, 

A tongue chained up without a sound. 
****** 

The wind blows out, the bubble dies ; 

The dew’s dried up, the star is shot, 

The storm is past, the loss forgot/' 

“ O, Santa ! ” cried Kreche, “ the loss of the ring 
is the cause of our quarrel ! As soon as the talisman 
of love and peace took flight, discord and jealousy 
entered in ! 

“ My heart was no longer light and happy, but lay 
like a burdensome weight of lead in my breast ! Our 
eyrie home grew to be a dungeon in its seclusion ! 
My life seemed a banishment to unrequited toil ! 
Even you, whom I so love, grew to be a monster 
whose hand was gripe of steel ! 

( 81 ) 


8 2 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-G NO-LAND. 


“ Let us to the search ! 

“ I know by the return of that talismanic strength 
to my hand and heart that the ring is not far away ! 

“ Come ! ” she cried. “ Come ! All things animate 
and inanimate ! Seen and unseen ! Come ! Come ! 
I command ! Come ! to the search ! Sight and labor 
spare not ! ” 

Now, I being one of the unseen animates, obeyed 
the command, and began the search by casting eyes 
around everywhere for the ring, thinking, meantime, 
that it could not, as Kreche had said, be far away ; 
for it was only in the rollicking of the wedding-reel 
that it had slipped from her finger, and unperceived 
rolled to its hiding place. 

With rout and snort the “ eight tiny reindeer,” 
with antlers high set and noses to the ground, led the 
search. Each pawing hoof trod upon air ; “ Vixen,” 
with humble dignity, did not disdain the putting 
of her aristocratic little nose in places that, an hour 
before, she would have spurned ; at the same time 
rebuked the amours of “ Prancer,” who could not 
resist, at such a time and place, to hint that he hoped 
to place his wedding-ring so securely in her little pink 
nostrils that it would never lose. 


THE RE CONCILIA TION. 


83 


“ Comet ” was in a craze. 

Her soft dark eyes had now two objects upon which 
they longed at once to rest — the “ ring ” and “ Cupid." 
Noticing “ Vixen’s ” demureness, and the laying aside 
of her many coquettish ways, might she not herself 
take a double liberty, and pay off Cupid for his many 
side flirtations, by wringing his heart with jealousy, at 
seeing her continue the search for the ring in the 
society of “ Dunder,” who, she knew, had long wanted 
to come to her side and express his admiration of her 
silky, yellow-brown coat, delicate antlers, tiny hoofs 
and beautiful eyes. 

Yes, she would. 

With a frisky antic which took her from “ Cupid’s ” 
side, she left him standing in astonishment to place 
herself by “ Dunder,” and with beaming glance and 
shake of her pretty head, rendered him nearly unfit 
to continue the search. 

Laugh-e-oo’s bulging calves, which seemed to have 
the power of expanding and contracting at will, now 
dwindled to mere nothing, in order that he might 
have less weight with which to cope in this active 
labor of finding the precious circlet, 

He marshalled his Gnome-band around him, ex- 


84 A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND . 

plained the loss, and selecting the most keen-sighted 
and attentive of them all, placed them in the field 
with the command to neither eat, drink, nor sleep 
until the trophy could be borne to their eyrie Queen. 

As for himself, with sad countenance and hanging 
ears, he sought the sphere of Violette to ask, if it 
were possible for her to ever let the token of his love 
lie so hid and uncared for ? 

Violette, who had just completed her orders to 
have such a potion concocted and swallowed by her 
most astute follower as would throw her into a deep 
sleep, and in an agonized dream disclose the 
place of the golden hoop paused and turned to 
assure Laugh-e-oo that, Never ! never ! roam where 
she might, over mountains or through dells, or the 
most subterranean caves, as she hoped to sometime do 
with him, would she allow his ring to pass from her 
custody, and, as a further and efficient guard, she 
told that she was having a score of attendants daily 
trained in watching and guarding her hand, although, 
as yet, there was nothing on it ; a sarcastic hint 
which caused Laugh-e-oo to broadly smile way back 
of his ear on one side of his face, as it was an admis- 
sion that he was her favored one, and cry upon the 


THE RECONCILIATION. 85 

other side until the ear wiped the tears away, that his 
suit had not been sanctioned by Santa. 

Agag, the Elf-king, as soon as the command of 
Kreche reached his ear, struck fire upon a flint, and 
bringing to an altar composed of nutshells, a sheaf of 
ripe grain and a bundle of poppy-heads, he laid them 
thereon, and then catching fire on the point of his 
lance, applied it thereto, and in the smoke which 
ascended bathed face and hands, and in the burning 
embers heated the points of lances, which he after- 
ward distributed to such of the Elves as he wished 
to trust in this momentous matter of hunting the 
ring. 

Each Elf so chosen threw the fire-charmed lance 
given him across his back; put on his armor of 
chestnut-burr ; and taking up a shield of toughened 
frog-skin, declared himself as equipped for battle and 
anxious to be led to the very front ! 

The Fairy-queens gathered together their wands 
and potion-filters, and after retipping the former, 
filled to the brim the latter, and with many incanta- 
tions and weird ceremonies, hastened to the disas- 
trous circle and entered the arena at the same 
moment and opposite Agag, who, bowing low, sent 


86 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


forward his own attendant with a shield bearing a 
tear, a kiss, and a fierce threat. 

The rabbits laid their long pink ears back, and let 
their tender eyes rove behind every blade of grass 
and hanging leaf ; the bees sought under every clover 
blossom, while their queen sat and shook her wise 
little head ; butterflies hung low in the air, and 
remained motionless with wings outspread, and in 
readiness to bear the ring to Kreche as soon as it was 
found. 

The gay-plumaged birds vied with each other in 
securing to themselves the most sightly twigs, and 
then, with eyes obliquely set, jealously scanned every 
nodding fern, waving leaf, or swaying flower. The 
chirping cricket, croaking grasshopper, musical cock- 
chaffer, and every insect of note, ceased its song and 
silently joined in the search. 

The peacocks, forming the circle, gladly admitted 
all that came, but sternly refused a return of any one 
until the ring was found. 

The Mermaids veiled their eyes with their long 
beautiful hair and wept salty tears, sang mournful 
dirges which sounded like the soughing and sighing 
of wave and wind over a sea wreck, and swung their 


THE RE CONCILIA TION. 


87 

shining mirrors to catch a beam from the gold circlet 
and so disclose its hidden place. 

The sad murmur of the little streams told that the 
Water-sprites had shut themselves within their sea- 
shell homes, and, in their sorrow were crooning 
dirge-like notes. 

Santa, too, was alert ; but in kindness stood and 
supported Kreche, who, until the ring was restored 
to her finger, was painfully feeble. 

He saw the ring, and in a low pleased tone dis- 
closed its whereabouts to Kreche. 

I, too, saw the ring. 

A bright halo of warm rosy light was encircling it ; 
outside was a guard of happy Fairy, queens with 
wands elevated ; they, in turn, were surrounded by 
the battle line of Elves whose king, Agag, was their 
centre ; while the air was filled with the flashing 
wings of birds, bees, butterflies and insect life, and 
rife with a melodious rhythm from earth, air and 
water. 

Kreche, as soon as her eyes rested upon the talis- 
man of her love, grew in strength, and Santa, finding 
that he could safely leave her did so ; and gathering 


88 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND . 


the ring in his hand, bore it to her and placed it upon 
her finger. 

The song, the gladness, the outbursts of joy in that 
eyrie home, I will leave my little readers to imagine ! 




CHAPTER IX. 

Santa. 

“ Come, Kreche, troll to me the bowl, 

E’en as a malt worm sholde ; 

As my sweetheart come take your part 
Of this jolly goode ale and olde. 

No frost or snow, no wind I trow, 

Shall hurt me if I wolde ; 

I am so wrapte, and thoroughly lapte 
In jolly goode ale and olde.” 

Kreche. 

She serves the meal ; she takes the stitch ; 

She shoes the nag ; the traces hitch ; 

A watch she keeps of fleeting hours 
While Santa roams through Somnus’ bowers. 

As soon as ever the ring was restored to Kreche’s 
finger, not only were she and Santa themselves again, 
but so also were their attendants. 

Elves, Fairies, Gnomes Water-sprites, Wood- 
nymphs, Mermaids, with bird and insect, vanished to 
their familar haunts, as Santa gallantly seated Kreche 

(89) 




LAUGH-E-00 GOES WITH A RING TO COURT VIOLETTE. Chap. IX 

(90) 


LA UGH-E-00 AND VIOLETTE. 


9 1 

in her ivory chair, causing the chains of stars to twin- 
kle and swing ; and as he then turned to his own 
seat, the little crescent moons upon each corner and 
angle glowed and threw out a pale red light of glad- 
ness. 

“ Laugh-e-00 ! ” he shouted, “ two boats of ale ; one 
drawn foamy and strong, the other creamy and 
mild ! ” 

Laugh-e-oo, with calves again enormously bulging, 
soon brought the silver tankards, one of which Santa 
gallantly passed to Kreche. 

She took the cup from his hand, that she might 
honor his toasts, but at the next moment ordered a 
glass of honey-dew and wafers of sweet snow-cakes, as 
they were all that she needed for her refreshment. 

Santa, in his gladness, almost shouted as he waved 
his glass toward her : 

“ Come, my sweetheart, and take your parte, 

And troll to me the bowle ; 

So often drinke, that ye may thinke, 

I cannot be a-colde. 

Though ride I will o’er mount and hill, 

Through dale and valley bold ; 

Ne’er back nor side ’ll go bare, go bare, 


92 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND . 


Nor foot nor hand ’ll go colde, 

For with ale within and love’s charm without, 
Nought’ll harm me if I wolde.” 

Kreche joyfully answered his toast in the same 
strain, and then drew freely of her distilled honey- 
dew and ate her sweet snow-cakes. 

Silence prevailed for a few moments in the eyrie 
home, and then Santa rather sadly remarked, “ that 
there was still much to do.” 

“ O, yes ! but, old love, let me do that much while 
you rest ? ” 

“ Can you pack the sleigh ; feed the reindeers ; set 
their shoes, and see that they are tightly fastened 
and sharply pointed ? ” 

“ Oh ! so easily ! ” 

“And, Kreche, dear, cannot you also take a few 
stitches in the back of my fur coat ? 

“ And, I believe, too, that the toe of one my boots 
needs a little attention. I tore both coat and boot 
when last I rode, in descending a tall narrow chimney 
in St. Petersburg. 

“ And now I think of it, I must have a new cap. 

“ I became so warm while filling stockings in 
Genoa that I took my head-gear for a fan, and laying 


LAUGH-E-00 AND VIOLETTE. 


93 

it down for a moment, that I might have the use of 
both hands to crowd a very large ‘ Claude * into a very 
small stocking, I became startled at the near approach 
of the lady for whom it was intended, and fled up the 
chimney in such hot haste that the cap was left be- 
hind. 

“ I remember thinking it was luck that I had fin- 
ished my visits to the lands of snow and ice, or I 
might thereafter have had to ride with a cold pate. 

“ Laugh-e-oo ! bring ale ! ” 

It was soon brought by the laughing Gnome, who, 
delighted at the return of the old-time jolliness, was 
more funnily grotesque than ever. 

“ Art happy, Laugh-e-oo ? Be happier still ! 
Violette shall be thine ! ” exclaimed Santa, as he took 
the foaming bowl from the faithful Gnome’s hand. 

Laugh-e-oo turned a thousand somersaults in the 
air, and at each turn his calves expanded until his 
head was a mere speck in comparison. 

In this ridiculous plight he sought the shades 
which were haunted by modest Violette to securely 
place the coveted ring upon her little finger, while 
Santa sang — 


94 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-G NO-LAND. 


“O, belly, I’ll send thee good ale enough, 
Whether it be new or olde ; 

To warm me while I boldly ride 
O’er mountains high and colde. 

Then, my dear love, come take your parte, 

And troll to me the bowle ; 

That frost nor snow, nor wind I trowe, 

Can hurt me if I wolde. 

Though I go bare, take ye no care, 

I’ll nothing be a-colde; 

For I’ll stuff my skin so full within 
Of this jolly good ale and olde.” 

“ Laugh-e-oo ! send me Agag !” 

A moment sufficed to bring the Elf-king. 

He came with an aspect that was bold and 
haughty, while his eye had the gleam of an eagle’s. 

“ Ah ! Agag, thoq art here ! 

“Now, what deeds of valor hast thou ever per- 
formed that I can offer thee in return the hand of my 
fairest Fairy-queen? ” 

Agag snapped a lance in twain, and thrusting its 
point in the ground, rested his hand upon its broken 
shaft while he recounted his deeds of valor. 

“ I have made such war upon the different tribes of 


LAUGH-E-00 AND VIOLET TE. 


95 

Elves that the longest of my lances has been filled to 
the hold with the heads of Elf-kings ! 

“ I have left none but the best and bravest of Elves, 
and to enter under my banner and wear my shield of 
frog-skin is only accorded to some valiant yet con- 
quered Elf-king ! 

“ I, Agag, am the acknowledged king of all Elf- 
kings ! ” 

“ Agag, you have my permission to carry your war 
into the Fairies’ haunts; but, you must leave your 
war-lances to rust in Elf-dom, and enter their grounds 
with only Cupid’s borrowed bow in hand, and his 
quiver of arrows at your back ! 

“ Laugh-c-oo ! more ale ! 

“ Back and side go bare, go bare, 

Both foot and hand go coble ; 

But, belly, I’ll send thee good ale enough, 
Whether it be new or olde.” 

Kreche, during this colloquy with Laugh-e-oo and 
Agag, had been busying herself making a cap of 
asbestos for Santa. 

After fitting it closely to his head and taking a 
pinch here and there, she asked, “ Santa, had you not 
better go to rest ? ” 


9 6 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-G NO-LAND. 


“ Well — yes — for — 

‘ I am of ale so full within, 

That more I cannot holde ; 

And have no fear, that far or near, 

I e’er can be a-colde.’ 

“ Call me at nine, that I may have an early start. 

“ And, now, dear love, I go, and leave all things in 
your efficient hands.” 

Saying which, he rose from his chair, while I saw 
that the crescent moons upon the corners and angles 
had now dimmed their lustre and were hardly notice- 
able ; and strolling toward a pile of handsome Turkish 
rugs, he threw one over his shoulder and soon en- 
tered the mouth of a shady cave, and, it is to be sup- 
posed, laid him down to sleep. 

I now took to watching Kreche. 

She, having regained her usual calmness and 
strength, carefully pinned up the skirt of her rich 
silk dress, not as a matter of economy, but from 
habitual neatness ; turned back the lace from her 
plump white wrists ; and proceeded to her work in a 
way which showed that she felt her capability to 
perform a feat, which, as I looked around upon the 
mountains of toys, seemed to me to be simply impos- 
sible. 


LA UGH-E-00 AND VIOLET TE. 


97 

She began by taking up the silver whistle which 
hung by her side and sounding a loud clear note. 

Soon from out the forest of pine, and with their 
dark eyes glistening, came the bounding “ eight tiny 
reindeer.” 

She made a motion with her head that they were to 
lie down. 

All but “ Vixen ” dropped upon their sides, and 
with head and feet extended, lay motionless. 

“ Vixen ” was inclined to speed back to the forest. 
She turned, and was about to show a set of light 
hoofs, when a shrill note from the whistle brought her 
to her senses. Halting, she stood for a moment and 
shook her antlered head, cast longing looks toward 
the shade of the pines, and then reluctantly laid down 
by her pair. 

Kreche, once satisfied that “ Vixen ” would give 
her no more trouble, brought out the sleigh. 

When I saw the moderate size of this renowned 
vehicle, I thought, Well, well; several thousand 
such would not begin to hold this huge mountain of 
toys! What ever is she to do? This last question 
showed my ignorance of Kreche’s powers. 

She first wiped and dusted it all over. This done, 


98 A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND / 

she began covering the outside with hooks, some 
large, and some small. 

Upon these were hung bags innumerable. And 
then came a packing and condensing of which I had 
never dreamed. 

Such heaps, such rows, such acres of toys as disap- 
peared within those bags would have astonished a 
Chinese Juggler. And strangest of all, they were 
never full ! There was always room for whatever 
her hand might next rest upon. 

All this was done in a careful, systematic manner, 
and, also, with quick deftness ; and then I bethought 
me, Ah! well! she has had much experience. We 
cannot tell what two hundred years might not do for 
us ! 

After the filling of the bags came the packing of 
the sleigh itself. In this the most choice, of the 
Christmas gifts were placed. The gold and silver ; 
diamonds and pearls ; deeds and bank notes ; and 
those of their kind ; after which, more bags were 
piled on top. And now I lost sight of the sleigh 
altogether. 

The packing finished, Kreche stepped back and 
viewed her work. She seemed satisfied that matters 


LA UGH-E-00 AND VIOLET TE. 


99 


could not be improved ; placed her hand upon its 
edge to try its balance ; moved the packages a little to 
the right or left; tried the strength of the traces; 
and walking around it, gave an approving nod ; 
while I stood, self-confessed, that notwithstanding the 
great amount of freight which it contained, the sleigh, 
on the whole, looked as light as a feather. 

Kreche now produced her work-basket. As one 
might know, it was ample. 

Santa’s fur coat was neatly reseamed ; next a patch 
put upon the toe of his boot ; she then added such 
other things as he would need during his long and 
cold ride ; and, finally, laid beside them a clean clay 
pipe and a pouch of sweet-scented tobacco. f 

Her eyes now sought the cuckoo clock, the hands 
of which were nearing the hour of Santa’s departure. 




SANTA LEAVING EL-FAY-GNO-LAND ON HIS CHRISTMAS JOURNEY. 

Chap X. 


( IOO ) 




THE SLEEPERS AWAKE. 

“ Now I go, now I fly. 
****** 

O ! what a dainty pleasure ’tis 
To ride in the air 
When the moon shines fair ; 

And sing, and dance, and toy, and kiss ! 

Over woods, high rocks and mountains, 

Over seas and mistress fountains, 

Over steep towers and turrets 
To fly by night.” 

The first to be roused from their sleep were the 
eight reindeer. 

They sprang light and nimbly to their feet ; Vixen 
with a half-shamed light in her soft dark eyes as she 
remembered her truant ways. A double portion of 
meal was given them, as well as a hearty draught of 
fresh milk. 

Having finished their supper, Kreche called them 
to her, giving to each one their own proper name as 
( ioi ) 



102 


A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 


she wanted them, and each one, in turn, held up his 
dainty little hoofs one after the other, until, with a 
tick-tick-tack, every silver shoe was fitted, sharply 
pointed, and fastened so firmly that no amount of 
straining, stamping, or pulling up steep roofs would 
loosen them. 

She then adjusted their harness, trying every part 
to see if it were firm ; put a string of sweet-sounding 
silver bells around each neck ; led them in front of 
the sleigh ; properly fastened the traces ; and turning 
their heads toward the door, left them standing while 
she called Santa. 

She disappeared for a moment down the shadowy 
aisles and in the cool cave, and soon returned accom- 
panied by the Christmas hero. 

He was quite as nimble in his step as were the little 
reindeer ; shook himself, yawned, and shouted in a 
deep basso, “ Laugh-e-oo ! a boat of ale ! ” 

While the ale was being brought, he sank easily 
into his chair, and motioned Kreche into hers. 

Violette was soon by her side, bringing a cup of 
distilled honey-dew and a plate of sweet snow-cakes ; 
while behind her might have been seen a charming 
circle of Wood-nymphs. 


'THE SLEEPERS A WAKE . 


103 


Laugh-e-00 also came with a tankard of foamy ale, 
his calves still enormously bulging from sheer happi- 
ness, his ears tied back with the brightest of russet 
green ribbons, so early had he taken on the color of 
his love, and each of his followers by their figure and 
garb indicated that the joy of their leader was also 
theirs. 

Agag approached and drew his Elfin army into 
battle-line ; the Fairy-queens, with their maids of 
honor in close attendance, formed rings of daintiness ; 
the Water-sprites threw wreaths of delicate foam; 
the Mermaids in sea-green costume swung their 
bright mirrors, and arranged their beautiful tresses ; 
the majestic procession of peacocks advanced ; the 
white pink-eared rabbits sat patiently upon their 
haunches ; bird and insectile life was on the wing, 
humming, flashing in joyous motion and song ; the 
fountains sent up a rhythmical murmur ; the roses, 
oleanders and waxen lilies shed their richest per- 
fumes ; the orange, lemon and bananas dropped their 
choicest fruits, and all came in a quiet, magical way, 
as did the music which accompanied Santa as he 
gayly sang— 


104 


A VISIT TO EL-FA V-GNO-LAND. 


“ Come, my sweatheart, and take a parte, 

Come, troll to me the bowle ; 

And may I drinke, till you may thinke, 

I cannot be a-colde. 

For I must ride through valleys wide 
And scale the mountains bolde ; 

O’er ice and snow will gayly go, 

Nor colde nor tire will bide. 

Then come, sweetheart, and take your parte, 

And join me in the bowle ; 

Drinke to my ride and safe returne, 

In jolly good ale and olde. 

Though back and side go bare, go bare, 

Nor foote nor hande shall be colde ; 

For I’ll fill my skin so full within 
With this jolly good ale and olde. 

Come one ! come all ! come at my call ! 

And each act well your parte ; 

I’ll leave in your care what to me is most dear, 

My wife, my old sweetheart ! ” 

So singing, he and Kreche both rose simultane- 
ously from their chairs. 

The little reindeer were impatiently waiting to be 
on their way. 


THE SLEEPERS A WAKE . 


105 


“ Well, Kreche, wife, it is time for me to ride.” 

She helped him off with his home clothes and on 
with his old fur coat, cap and mittens ; then filled and 
lighted his pipe, which, as he took it from her hand, 
glowed like a live ember. 

Throwing his arm around her ample waist, he gave 
her a kiss that might have been heard around the 
world. 

Nimbly mounting to a seat upon his securely 
packed sleigh, while Kreche threw open the wide 
doors, he adroitly gathered his handful of lines ; gave 
a crack to the whip, and shouted to his team, “ Now, 
DASH AWAY ALL ! ” 

Like the lightning’s flash they bounded forth, and 
in a twinkle were out of sight. 

“ Santa Claus” — “ Kriss Kringle ” — “ Saint Nicho- 
las ” — was abroad ! 

I turned to see how Kreche bore Santa’s departure, 
half expecting to find her in tears. 

Instead of Kreche, her attendants, the grottoes, 
hanging-gardens, dells and fountains, which I had 
thought to see, there stood the high, grey old rocks 
with the pines and hemlocks above them, and white 
with snow and ice ; the deep, deep, diaphanous organ 


106 A VISIT TO EL-FA Y-GNO-LAND. 

notes of the whirlwinds which were circling around 
their tops ; the gay ferns and sweet-scented vines and 
flowers at my feet ; and then, I knew that when the 
great door shut, it was between the hall and me, and 
I had nothing to do but to hie me home, sit down 
and tell the little boys and girls about my visit to 
Santa Claus and his dear old wife, Kreche 
Kindly. 



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